We are growing fast and our quarterly Rocks keep turning into massive, year-long capital projects instead of ninety-day priorities. How do we scope our Rocks correctly during our quarterly planning sessions so they remain achievable?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

If your Rocks look like annual strategic initiatives, you are setting your team up for failure. A Rock must be a bite-sized, ninety-day priority that can realistically be completed alongside running the business. To scope Rocks correctly, start by applying the SMART framework: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely. If a proposed Rock sounds like 'upgrade the entire ERP system', reject it immediately. That is a year-long project. Instead, break it down. Ask the owner of the Rock what specific, meaningful milestone can be completed within the next ninety days. The Rock should be 'select ERP vendor and sign contract', or 'complete mapping of current state operational processes'. Limit each leader to three to five Rocks per quarter. If a leader has five Rocks and they all require thirty hours of work per week, they will fail. The math does not work. During your quarterly planning session, force the team to write out the specific definition of 'done' for each Rock. If the definition of done is vague, the Rock is not ready. By forcing this level of clarity, you ensure that every Rock is highly actionable. This keeps your team focused on immediate progress rather than getting paralyzed by the sheer scale of your long-term goals.